For those who wish to know about the Permit 19 scheme here are the FACTS as given to me by the DVLA this morning after our recent problems. Let me say my head is HURTING after this saga but we got a definitive answer from the DVLA legal side.
For driving a Minibus there are 2 basic categories of carriage
- Social (carrying friends and family)
- Commercial
We as a youth group come under section 2- Commercial
Comercial vehicle drivers should be PSV drivers HOWEVER the permit 19 wavers this requirement if it meets the criteria. the criteria revolves around Hire and Reward and payment to the driver.
I was questioned and the information I gave they made the conclusion that even as a uniformed officer receiving pay, I am NOT employed as a driver and the cadets are not paying special membership or paying money for use of the minibus that would constitute hire and reward. There for we meet the criteria for receiving a permit 19.
the answer they felt I would still receive the same pay (and rate of) there for it was not an issue of paid employment as a driver
So the Permit 19 scheme, as I said is there to waiver the PSV License to carry under commercial requirements. the DVLA guidance is as follows;
If you wish to drive a Minibus with 16 seats or more, the driver has to have a D1 license and the Vehicle a Permit 19
If you have a standard B1 license then you can drive a minibus 3500Kg or under and no more that 15 seats. Again a Permit 19 is required.
Please note that BOTH vehicles require a Permit 19, without it the driver should be a PSV Licensed driver.
That is the guidance we received today from the DVLA Legal team,
I also asked regarding my concern about registration etc on the permits, but they said they had been alterations over the years and we may just have different versions but as long as it was in date then there is no problem.